How To Hand Paint Pumpkins on to Taper Candles

This is a step by step guide on how to hand paint pumpkins on to taper candles. If you love the look of the beautiful hand painted candles out there on Pinterest and Etsy and fancy having a go at creating your own, then you are in the right place.

This cute pumpkin design is the perfect addition to your fall decor. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll have your very own hand painted pumpkin candles in no time. So grab yourself a pumpkin spiced latte, put on some cosy socks and let’s get painting!

Two white taper candles with orange pumpkins painted on. Candles lie on top of lace doily, surrounded by maple leaves, wheat stalks and acorns.

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Gather your tools and materials

You will need:

Taper candles
Non-toxic acrylic paint
Thin tip paint brushes
Old plate or a paint palette
Glass jar or mug with a small amount of water in (to wet the brushes if they become dry)
Rubbing alcohol (optional)

Prep – wipe down the candle using rubbing alcohol

I have read a couple of other articles that suggested wiping down the candle with rubbing alcohol (aka surgical spirit), before applying the acrylic paint. This will help to take the shine off of the candle and is supposed to help the paint stick to the candle better.

I used rubbing alcohol on my first attempt at candle painting, but then I forgot to use it on the second one and I didn’t really notice much difference. So I would say this step is optional.

If you have some rubbing alcohol to hand and want to use it then do, but if you don’t have any then don’t worry about it. I just used a small ball of cotton wool to apply the rubbing alcohol to the candle on my first attempt.

Start Painting

Step 1

I only used three main colours to paint my pumpkin design on to my candles; orange, dark brown and green. Squeeze a small amount of each colour on to your paint palette.

It’s a good idea to think about how you want to space out your pumpkins before you start painting. I went with four pumpkins in a vertical line to start with.

It’s also easier to start from the top and work your way down, to avoid smudging the paint as you go. If you make a mistake at any point, don’t panic, just wipe off the paint using your finger or a damp cloth.

Sunflower painted plate with 3 paint brushes and 4 blobs of paint on. 4 tubes of acrylic paint alongside plate. All placed on a black and white checked table cloth.

Step 2

Choose a paint brush with a thin tip and start by applying the orange paint in a capital C shape, as shown below.

Then on the opposite side, paint a backwards C shape.

Join the two C shapes together at the bottom by painting a small ridge, like a very flat U shape.

White candle with orange C shape painted on.

White candle with orange C shape and backwards C shape painted on.

Step 3

Fill in the shape with orange paint, using neat downward strokes.

Paint a thin outline around the outside of your pumpkin shape, using a very thin brush and some dark brown paint.

White candle with orange pumpkin shape painted on.

White candle with orange pumpkin shape with dark brown outline painted on.

Step 4

Paint some ridges on to your pumpkin, using the dark brown colour. I usually paint three ridges on the inside of the pumpkin shape.

The first ridge is slightly curved to the left and then the other two ridges are curved towards the right.

White candle with orange pumpkin shape with dark brown outline and ridge painted on.

White candle with orange pumpkin shape with dark brown outline and 3 ridges painted on the inside.

Step 5

Using the same dark brown colour, paint a stalk at the top of the pumpkin.

Finally, use the green colour paint to add a leaf and/or stem to your pumpkin. I quite like to paint mine as a thin line with a little swirl.

White candle with orange pumpkin shape with dark brown outline, 3 ridges painted on the inside and a stalk being painted on the top.

White candle showing finished pumpkin design.

Step 6

Continue to add as many pumpkins as you like to your candle. I find it easiest to hold the base of the candle in my left hand, whilst painting with my right hand.

Allow the paint to fully dry before placing it down on a surface. Or alternatively pop it into a candle stick holder.

Enjoy your painted candles

Place your candles on display to enjoy throughout the beautiful autumn season. I personally choose not to light my painted candles and just use them as a decoration.

The taper candles that I’ve used here are relatively cheap to buy and therefore made of paraffin wax. If I’m going to burn a candle in my home these days, I prefer it to be made from either soy wax or beeswax.

I’m also not sure how safe it is to burn acrylic paint, even if it does state on the packaging that it is non-toxic. I prefer to err on the side of caution and would NOT recommend lighting these candles, once they have been painted.